HC Deb 18 January 1979 vol 960 cc880-1W
Mr. John Ellis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many incidents there were in relation to breakdowns of public services from Christmas Day onwards due to the exceptional weather conditions; what special steps were taken by his Department to give help and advice to local authorities and others during the same period; if he is satisfied with the arrangements for his Department and local authorities whereby they received warning of the onset of extreme weather conditions and if he is satisfied that such information is detailed enough; and if he will make a statement as to his assessment of how his Department and local authorities discharged their functions in having services functional during the period Christmas Day onwards.

Mr. Denis Howell:

On 31st December an emergency operations room was established at the headquarters of the Department of the Environment and immediate contacts were made with each of the Department's nine regional offices. Priorities were established and contingency planning was undertaken in conjunction with other Departments as appropriate.

On 3rd January I met representatives of the local authority associations and the motoring organisations separately. The local authorities were concerned about supplies of road salt and diesel fuel in some areas and subsequently arrangements were made to ensure supplies.

The motoring organisations agreed to provide me with reports on instances where they considered there had been unsatisfactory snow clearance arrangements.

I have asked to be informed whether highway authorities considered the advance weather information service was adequate for their needs; what priorities they established at the onset of the severe conditions; what progress they were able to make on each of the three days after the commencement of their operations.

I shall be considering these reports in due course together with other assessments of the way in which the emergency was handled, the lessons to be learned and what action, if any, is necessary to improve contingency planning arrangements and I shall discuss all this with the local authority associations and the motoring organisations.